BEJMA is excited to announce the appointment of Soraya DosSantos as our new co-chair. Thank you to outgoing co-chair Yaminah Romulus for her exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment.
Read moreFeatured image credit: Stefanie Belnavis of Birthlooms
On Monday, August 26th, the historic Maternal Health Omnibus, aimed at reducing racial inequities in maternal outcomes, was signed into state law by Governor Maura Healey surrounded by reproductive justice advocates and coalition members. BEJMA was honored to be at the ceremonial signing to celebrate the passage of the bill.
Read moreOn July 10th, a coalition of over 40 midwives, doulas, public health experts, and reproductive justice advocates convened at the Massachusetts Statehouse to advocate for the urgent passage of the critical maternal health package.
Read moreThe BEJMA steering committee had our first group retreat in May 2024! We gathered at the beautiful Boston Nature Center in Mattapan and shared space, energy, ideas, challenges, and movement.
Read moreBEJMA is so excited for our co-chairs Dr. Jallicia Jolly and Yaminah Romulus to speak at Boston Women’s Fund’s Reproductive Justice Symposium,“Where Do We Go From Here” on April 22! We and fellow BWF grantee partners, Melanin Mass Moms, and Propa City Community Outreach, have been advisors for this event and will be sitting on a panel to uplift a crucial grassroots perspective. The day will also feature a keynote address from the international Queen Mother of Midwifery, Shafia Monroe, and an interactive action session where we’ll discuss together, with policymakers and funders, what’s next in the movement.
Read moreOn April 8, 2024, Birth Equity & Justice Massachusetts hosted a Black Maternal Health Week event at the Massachusetts State House in partnership with the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus, Bay State Birth Coalition, and the Center for Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice.
Read moreIn October 2023, BEJMA had the honor of meeting with BWF’s staff & other grantee partners leading grassroots work and systems change! It was such a rewarding experience to be surrounded by great leaders doing amazing work in our community.
Read moreBoston Globe - August 10, 2023
Boston-based maternal health organizations get funding boost to help cover cost of doulas, other supports: Three local organizations receive $75,000 in grants for their work addressing the maternal health crisis
Read moreOver 150 Haitian & Latine migrant families seeking asylum are being temporarily housed at the Clarion Hotel in Taunton, Massachusetts. Taunton is a maternity desert, meaning pregnant and birthing migrants are experiencing a public health crisis due to lack of social supports, maternity and postpartum resources, and quality nutrition. As a result, migrants are experiencing increased incidences of depression, high blood pressure, anemia, and gestational diabetes.
BEJMA is working with various organizations in the Massachusetts area to collect donations in the coming weeks.
How you can help: If you are able, please consider purchasing supplies from this Amazon Registry, contributing to the GoFundMe, signing up to volunteer, or bringing requested items to our drop-off locations.
Read moreIn August 2022, we adopted a new name, “Birth Equity & Justice Massachusetts (BEJMA)” and updated our mission and vision as part of our strategic planning process.
Read our new mission and vision statements.
Read moreThe Massachusetts COVID-19 Maternal Equity Coalition is proud to announce that we won a 2021 Special Initiatives grant from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation in the amount of $25,000. This funding will enable MCMEC to conduct a strategic planning process that aims to further develop our multi-sectoral, interdisciplinary, community-driven group devoted to improving the health outcomes of BIPOC birthing people across the state.
Read moreOn June 3rd from 12:30 pm until 2 pm, the Coalition will host our annual Massachusetts Maternal Health Equity Community Town Hall (virtual) in partnership with the Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety and the Perinatal-Neonatal Quality Improvement Network of Massachusetts (PNQIN). Our collective goal is to improve maternal health for Black and Brown birthing people during COVID-19 in the Commonwealth by centering the experiences and stories of our community.
Read moreNew Coalition Demands that Governor and Legislature Take Immediate Action to Address Maternal Mortality Crisis During COVID-19
Coalition announces six policy priorities to protect and prioritize birthing people during the pandemic
Massachusetts, July 15, 2020 - The Massachusetts COVID-19 Maternal Equity Coalition releases the report Birthing in a Pandemic, issuing policy recommendations to Governor Baker and the Legislature to improve maternal health for Black and brown birthing people during COVID-19 in the Commonwealth.
PDF version of Press Release.
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